With federal flood insurance payments to North Carolinians for Hurricane Florence totaling over a half-billion dollars, officials are urging those who don’t have coverage to purchase it.

While FEMA has approved more than $118 million in grants to families and the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $328 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners and businesses, these numbers are exceeded by the roughly $529 million paid out to North Carolinians by the National Flood Insurance Program.

“Flood damage can be devastating, no matter where you live—on the coast or inland, near a waterway or not,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “Flood insurance is the best line of defense against flooding, and it’s helping thousands of North Carolina residents recover after Hurricane Florence.”

Federal Coordinating Officer Albie Lewis, who oversees FEMA’s operations in North Carolina, pointed out that floods are the most common and costly form of natural disaster in the U.S.

“Less than half of flood events will be declared disasters by the federal government,” Lewis said. “Flood insurance pays out whether a disaster is declared or not.”

Following Hurricane Florence, more than $2.7 million in NFIP payments have been made to policyholders living in counties where FEMA assistance is not available. And since almost no homeowners insurance policies cover flooding, flood insurance is the only way to protect against such circumstances.

Flood insurance is available for those who live in a flood-prone area or not. In fact, while already highly affordable, NFIP policies are even less expensive for those not in a high-risk area.

For more information about the NFIP and flood insurance, call 800-427-4661 or your insurance agent, or go online to fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Florence, visit ncdps.gov/Florence and FEMA.gov/Disaster/4393. Follow us on Twitter: @NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.